New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-08
AMERICAN RIGHTS IN BEHRLNG SEA.


BRITISH FISHERMEN WILL DRIVE THE SEALS AWAY
&C. O. sHAYNE ON BAYARD's POLICY.
The review which appeared in last Sundays IRIB-
UNE Of the vaolatng policy OF the State Department
with regard to the Alaska fishing grounds has awak-
ened great deal OF interest among the manufacturing
ana importing furriers OF this city. That the Aneri-
fur trade especially in seal SKINS Is sure TO suer
speedy dminution total extinction, by the ad-
MISSION OF British hunters 10 the waters OF Behring
Sea- Is generally recognized in that trsde and can be
easily demonstrated. Perhaps better authority
upon the habits of the SEAL the treatment Of its fur
and the state OF the fur trade generally, can be found
iu thIs CITY than G. Z. Shayne, the Prince Street
turrer. Mr.. Shayhe. as is we'll known, Is stanch
Democrat; but on being asked to his views on
Secretary Bayard's policy with regard to the Alaska
fisheries, he said
~ must agree with TIE TRIBUNE In its editorial
treatment OF the question, and think that both in
law and common sense. as we merchants of New-YOrk
understand 1t. tho position taken by The TRIBUNE Is
correct Secretary Bayard, feel, has not appreci-
ated the peouarties OF the seal fisheries and in at
tempting to mako tho rulings apply to them as
to deep-sea fisheries has made a serious mistake.
Seals are invariably taken upon land, chiefly on
certain Islands which tor years form the breeding
grounds OF the same colony OF school. They are, to
considerable degree, migratory in their habits and
their choice OF breeding grounds Is probably regulated
by the abundance or scarcity OF their food which
consists of fish II British fishermen are ~ be
allowed to enter the waters OF Behring Sea, to
conduct deep-sea fishing. the result TO the food sup
py of the seals will be disastrous, and the seals will,
in all probability, migrate to some other quarter and
disappear who'll, from those waters, as has already
happened in tho case OF other sealing grounds IL
British seaers are allowed TO hunt in those waters,
then good bye to our trade for they will slaughter
unfortunately both young and DID, and IN 10"
years a seal will be rs rare an animal as buffalo,
"a You think then that close season tor seals should
DO strictly observsdF
Tba Ia ~ ia or.
orally supposed. The female gives birth TO al
most two yours once only once year, and many
causes exist Kill Oh the young seal betore he reahes
maturity The intelligence OF these animals is well
known their tuidi,y is proverbal, and although at
present tho Alaska hunters count confidently their
annual resppearsnoe predict that some season Ia
the near future they will look in vain tor their
quarry Already the seals. which were once caught
along the southern extremity Of the coast OF Alaska
eyinoe tendency to escape their pusuers by going
further North to breed the laud-locked waters OF
Behring Sea- II tho British hunters are allo wed 10
pursue them there. they will no doubt oetake them
selves the inaccessible waters OF the Arctic Sea- or
some here outside vi our domain. where regulations
tor their protection cannot be enforced"
What is the present limit TO the catch y
"Our Government allows tho Alaska Commercial
COMPANY to which the fisheries are leased, TO kill
100000 annually, aud favor reduction OF even
this amount by 20 600. as last years catch evnced
decided falling Oh In quantity as compared with
toruer years
+" Are there instances OF seal fisheries being ruined
by indiscrminste slaughterP
" About twenty years ago seals were caught in
largo quantities on the coast OF Siberia aud also
about the Shetland Islands the coast OF Scotland
These seals. knor TO the trade q shetland seals.
were hunted indscriminately and suddenly disap-
peared to turn up again in the Antarctic Ocean A
indicate OF NewYork merchants sent out vessels to
pursue them there. and tor years made fortunes
out OF the enterprise. One year, however the feet
returned without enough skins to cover the expense
and reported the seals golo and the once prolnc
fishery ruined"
" How arc we going TO keep the foreigners Quit"
THAT brings us back to the tlmd aud temporizng
policy of Secretary Bayard. He should be familiar
with the treaty OF peace which gave rights in the
Canadiaa Atlantic fisheries. These rights were
subsequently restricted by the Treaty OF 1878 and
the three-milo limit there defined. No such thing
occurred IN our purchase OF Alaka from Russia.
Russia owned Behrlng Sea- aud purchased hall Of
1t. Tho yeKed question OF three mile
limit has no entrance here. The Gar
enough quel any interference viii his halt OF Behrlns
fisheries should be ruined to the cost OF the people OF
the Unted States, Tor tho sake, as The TRIBUNE has
already said of justitying Secretary Bayards argu-
ment respecting the deep sea fisheries on tne
Atlantic ~. ,,
You appear to teel deeply on the subject, Mr..
Shayne." ,. 49,,
Yes do because am In the seal business and
this comes closely homo to me, since IL Affects me as
well a. my merchant neighbors. IL 10 q matter Oh
vital importance to us. aud feel. as an american
citizen q merchant and atax-payer, that am en-
titled to be protected IN my rights am giad 10 SEQ
The TRIBUNE taking the matter up